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Friltb" S ority îiewspaper... Local publicatio grows right along witli I>IUGRIi.SSl)ITION, WiIITBlY [RIAl: l>RSS. \V[I)NlSI,)AYý, NI ( 1SI lA~ ~m Whi'otby By NMICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff Most people would acknowledge that the prirnary source of infor- mation they need about their community cornes from the local newspaper. Since its inception as a community in 1855, Whitby has rarely, if ever, been without a local newspaper. The Whitby Free Press, according to its owner, publisher and managing editor Michael Burgess, "is proud to be carrying on the tradition, and hopes that we provide the same level of service that previous Whîtby newspa pers did." The Whitby Free Press was founded in 1971 and the publication is looking for- ward to holding many loth anniversary celebrations in the month of June. Since its inception, the Free Press has been ex- periencing tremendous growth, Burgess says, poin- ting to the fact that in the last two years alone cir- culation bas nearly doubled to reacb its present level of 22,000 weekly. "During the last two years, our circulation has grown to the point where we are reaching alrnost every borne in the Town of Whit- by," Burgess says, adding that the newspaper is now also reaching homnes in ur- ban and rural Ajax, Pickering and Port Perry. While the newspaper is still delivered by mail to the residents of the villages of Ashburn, Myrtle, Myrtle Station, and rural Witby, home delivery by carrier was recently introduced in the hamlet of Brooklin. The Whitby Free Press employs miore than 100 carriers to deliver a newspapcr that is put out by the seventeen member staff. The day-to-day operations of the publication are ban- dled by Burgess and bis wife, Marj, wbo not only publish Witby's newspaper but live in the cornrunity as well. *We are very proud of the fact that the Free Press is the onlv newspaDer that is operated by Whitby people for Whitby people," Burgess savs. "In fact, the Free Press is the only newspaper available to Whitby residen- ts that is actually located in the town and pays taxes here."- "None of the cornpeting publications can make that dlaim." The Whitby Free Press is divided up into four depar- trnents, editorial, adver- tising, production, and cir- other business, can function unless it bas a steady source of income. That incorne is derived prirnarily frorn the sale of advertising space. The Whitby Free Press's advertising sales manager, also a Whitby resident, is Karen Thornpson who is responsible for a three per- son staff wbich includes Marj Burgess, Gazel Cham- berlain and Barry Murkar. Another important source of income is classified ad- vertising that is managed by Catherine Harvie, a twenty- two year Whitby resident, who is also responsible for the typesetting of the newspaper. Layout, design and paste- up of advertising is done by Bey Rudkin and Dianne Jankovich. However, unless newspaper is delivered, no one is able to read il and the circulation of the newspaper is the job of oui' circulation manager Sally Stinson. another long-t irne Wbit by resident. 'i'e Wbitb'y Fret, Press alsti bas great bopes for- the future. "During the next few years, we plan on producing a larger and more infor- mation filled newspaper," Burgess says. "As time goes by, we hope to be able to broaden the scope of our editorial coverage and provide our readersbip with the best news and adver- tisinig information." At present, the Free Press is published every Wed- nesday and is believed to be one of the Iargest employers in the downtown area. The ownership of tbe newspaper has been very involved in the community. Burgess is the current chairman of the Witby C.en- tral Business' District Ini- provement Board and bas served in the past on other town boards and as the president of many com- munity groups încluding the local branch of the Ontario Humane Society, the Whitby Chamber of Commer-ce and the Witby Jaycees. Burgess was also the foun- ding president of Athol- Green Co-operative Homes, and Durham Cultural Foun- dation. Marj Burgess has also been on rnany local boards sucb as the executive of the Chamber of Commerce, Whitby Arts and president of the Whitby Jaycette Club. "Because we live and work here, it is our intention to bring to the attention of our readership aIl of the im- portant and relative issues it is our hope tii be Whitby's--mi only local news source for many years to) corne EDITOR'S NOTE: Il is acknowledged that some people will accuse the Whit- by Free Press of -blowing its owfl horn" by writing this story. but then again, if we Free Press offices don't who will?____________________